ThermaCore Decode: How Foam-Wall Spas (Like SaluSpa Toronto) Solve "Hot Tub in Winter"

For years, the “inflatable” hot tub market has been defined by a universal, frustrating trade-off: great price, but poor durability and terrible insulation. This reality is perfectly captured by 5-star reviewer Steven Smith:

“This is our 4th ‘inflatable’ hot tub. All of the others get holes and loose air. I have spent a lot of time and money trying to patch them. Not any more!“

His review, written for the Bestway SaluSpa Toronto (B0D6J2ZCMQ), highlights a critical shift in the portable spa market. The Toronto isn’t an “inflatable” tub at all. It’s the vanguard of a new “hybrid” category: the rigid foam-wall spa.

This design, which Bestway calls “ThermaCore,” directly attacks the two biggest failures of its air-filled cousins: structural leaks and heat loss.

1. The Durability Solution: ThermaCore vs. “Holes and Loose Air”

The primary failure of an inflatable tub is air retention. They are, at their core, just glorified air mattresses.

The SaluSpa Toronto throws this design out. * The Old Way (Inflatable): Air-filled PVC walls (like “DuraPlus”) that are vulnerable to punctures, seam-splits, and leaks. * The New Way (ThermaCore): The tub walls are “rigid foam,” as Steven Smith notes. This “sturdy” construction (as user Alice H. calls it) is a “cross-sectional image showing layers of Thermacore material.” It’s a solid, structural foam, much like a high-end cooler.

The result is a tub that is “strong enough to lean against” (Steven Smith) and “feels much sturdier… has the feeling of a tub costing 7X more” (Daniel Brown). It cannot get “holes and loose air” because it contains no air. It solves the number one failure of the inflatable category.

2. The hot tub in winter Solution: Foam-Wall Insulation

The second failure of inflatable tubs is heat loss. An air-filled wall is a poor insulator. This is painfully obvious in cold weather, a key reason the hot tub in winter (500/mo search) is such a high-anxiety topic.

Worse, traditional inflatables have a design flaw: the bubbles themselves cool the water. As one 2-star reviewer (“This mells…”) noted, “bubbles that don’t cool down the hot tub like with an inflatable tub.”

The “rigid foam” (ThermaCore) construction is, by its very nature, a high-performance insulator. It’s the same principle as a YETI cooler or a modern home. * The Result: “Holds heat extremely well,” writes user Eddy. * The Proof: 5-star user Daniel Brown provides the best data. With an ambient temperature in the “high 20’s” (Fahrenheit), he ran the bubbles for 30 minutes and the tub only lost 2-4 degrees.

This is game-changing performance. It means the tub can be realistically used in cold climates without the heater (and your electric bill) running non-stop. This, combined with the “Freeze Shield” feature (which prevents the pump from freezing), makes it a true “year-round” system.

The New Trade-Offs: Installation and The Pump

The ThermaCore design solves the structural problems, but it introduces one new problem and fails to solve an old one.

1. The New Problem: Setup is “Not As Easy”

You are no longer just “inflating” a tub. You are assembling a rigid-wall kit. * Steven Smith warns, “It was a little difficult to set up. (Watch the video on how to do it. There is a woman doing it by herself. Yea…) It is much easier with 2 people.” * Daniel Brown gives the single best piece of advice: “Two people definitely needed… I would also suggest letting it sit in the sun for 30 minutes to make sure the vinyl is flexible enough to engage the zipper.“

This “zipper trick” seems to be the key, as the vinyl liner must be stretched inside the rigid foam frame. This is a one-time, 30-minute hassle, but it’s a significant departure from a 10-minute inflation.

2. The Old Problem: The Pump is Still The Pump

The SaluSpa Toronto’s walls are a revolution. Its pump, however, is an evolution.

While it has an “AirJet Plus” system (two bubble rings, high/low output), it appears to be the same “egg” pump mechanism from the inflatable line. This is confirmed by Codie, a 1-star reviewer: “The pump does not work… worked alright for two weeks then it keeps shutting down.”

This is the critical “gotcha.” The Toronto (B0D6J2ZCMQ) solves the tub’s structural failures (leaks, heat loss) but not the mechanical failures (the pump).

The Verdict: A Structural Leap Forward

The SaluSpa Toronto represents the “next generation” of portable spas. It’s a “hybrid” that offers the stability and insulation of a permanent tub with the price point of a portable one.

It is, without question, the superior choice for anyone who has been burned (or, more accurately, leaked on) by an inflatable tub, or for anyone searching for a reliable hot tub in winter. You are getting a “sturdy tub” (Alice H.) that “feels… 7X more” expensive (Daniel Brown).

You just have to be prepared for a tricky 30-minute setup, and accept that the pump remains the single, common point of failure for the entire SaluSpa category.